Toyota releases Kluger Black Edition

Dark theme creates a sinister seven-seater

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Toyota is the latest brand to release a 'Black Edition' model aimed at tempting customers with a dark side.

The Japanese car maker has released details of a Kluger Black Edition which features a host of - not surprisingly - black exterior highlights in order to give the family-focused seven-seat SUV a more aggressive stance.

Based on the mid-grade GXL trim, it comes with larger 19-inch alloy wheels (standard GXL models get 18s) in gloss black, with the roof rails, grille and headlight backing plates also blacked-out.

Available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive transmissions and in a choice of eight paint colours - presumably including black - the Kluger Black Edition costs from $55,970 (plus on-roads), a $1020 premium over the standard GXL.

Like all other Kluger variants, it remains powered by Toyota's venerable 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 that produces 218kW of power and 350Nm and is linked to a new-generation eight-speed automatic gearbox.